Flora of North America species comparison

erect or suberect, to 71(–140) cm;

sterile stems to 18 cm.

of fertile stems: blade oblanceolate to linear, usually flat, 5–45(–60) × 0.8–4(–8) mm, apex acute or subobtuse.

1–117-flowered, dense;

bracts linear, 2–5(–5.5) × 0.3–1 mm.

erect, 1–3 mm in flower, 2–4(–5) mm in fruit.

simple;

stigma entire.

violet to purple, with yellow or lilac palate, 9–13(–17) mm;

tube 1.5–2.5 mm wide, spurs curved, 5–7(–9) mm, subequal to rest of corolla, abaxial lip sinus (0.6–)0.8–1.5(–2) mm, adaxial lip sinus 1 mm.

lobes linear to linear-lanceolate, 1.5–3 × 0.5–1 mm in flower, 2–3.5 × 0.7–1.2 mm in fruit, apex acute or subacute.

subglobular, 2.7–4 × 2.5–3.7 mm, glabrous;

loculi equal.

black or blackish brown, subtrigonous or ± tetrahedral, 0.8–1.2 × 0.6–1 mm, with longitudinal marginal ridges and anastomosed ridges or tubercles on faces;

wing absent.

= 12 (Europe).